Cold Cherry Soup

This is another old Hungarian dish. People on this side of the pond tend to have the same kind of skepticism about it as I had about peanut butter. Traditionally it would be made using sour cherries, but can be made with regular cherries. If made with sour cherries it is acidic enough to serve as a starter, otherwise it is more like a dessert or midday snack. Very refreshing on hot summer day.

Ingredients
1 3/4 lbs cherries
4-cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3/4 cup dry red vine
juice of 1 lemon
2/3 cup of sugar
pinch of salt
2 egg yolks
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 1/3 cup of water

• Wash and pit the cherries. Place them in a pot with the vine, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, cloves.
• Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer till cherries are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Take out half the cherries and in food processor puree them, and return to the soup. Bring to a boil, then turn off heat.
• Mix the egg yolks into the cream.
• Slowly, spoonful by spoonful mix hot soup into the cream, whisking constantly. Finally pour the mixture into the soup.
• Stir in reheat. Careful, don't bring to a boil or the egg yolks will curdle. Remove cinnamon stick.
• Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate.
• Serve it chilled.